Beet topper



V. G. LARSEN BEET TOPPER Aug. 24, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 20 1951 n .n.h.,

V. G. LARSEN Aug. 24, 1954 BEET TOPPER 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 20, 1951 WNY.

Arrmmfyr.

Aug. 24, 1954 V, G ARSEN 2,687,154

BEET TOPPER Flled Aug. 20, 195i 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Aug. 24, 1954 v. G. LARsr-:N 2,687,154

BEET TOPPER Flled Aug. 20, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Allg 24, 1954 `v. G. LARsEN 2,687,154

BEET TOPPER Filed Aug. 20. 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 24, 1954 v. G. LARsEN BEET TOPPER Filed Aug. 20, 1951 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 [IUE] (DV-ID f I/T/l/ENTOR fl WOR/vers F1660 G. [f1/SEN V. G. LARSEN BEET TOPPER Aug. 24, 1954 7 Sheets-Sheet '7 Filed Aug. 20, 1951 Patented Aug. 24, 1954 OFFICE BEET TOPPER Viggo Grade Larsen, Picture Butte, Alberta, Canada Application August 20, 1951, Serial No. 242,609

My invention relates `to a mechanism for cutting the toppings off root vegetables such as sugar` topper in association with a digging and orienting arrangement which I have found to be highly satisfactory. I wish it to be understood, however, that there are other orienting mechanisms available in association with which my novel beet topper may be used to advantage.

The beet topper mechanism according to my invention comprises a topper housing which is secured in position on the frame of a suitable agricultural trailer. suitably the housing is cylindrical in shape and is mounted generally parallel to the trailer, with the open ends fore and aft. Gripping means are provided within the topper housing and means are provided for supplying sugar beets (or other root vegetables) to the topper housing `so that the latter enter the housing root foremost. The said means are arranged to supply beets at predetermined intervals in timed relation to the sequence of operations of the topping mechanism. Push rod means mountedfor longitudinal reciprocation centrally within the topper `housing are arranged in association with means for producing timed reciprocation thereof through the topper housing whereby to contact the crown of the beet supplied to the topper housing and push `the beet through the housing to an appropriate position for cutting off the root thereof. `Actuatng means for the gripper mechanism are mounted on the topper housing and arranged to actuate the gripper mechanism tightly `to grip the toppings of the beet at the precise moment that it has reached the appropriate position under the influence of thepush rod means. Rotating cutter means including a knife are appropriately mounted for rotation to the rear of the topper housing and are so arranged as to swing said knife past the rearward end of the topper housing as soon as the beet is in position and gripped bythe gripper means, to lop ofi the head thereof. Means are further provided for releasing the gripper means following the cutting off of the head of the beet, and top- 14` Claims. Ci. 14S-85) pings extractor means are provided for removing the toppings which remain in the topper housing.

Suitably, according to the invention, the gripper means take the form of a plurality of gripper bars arranged longitudinally within the topper housing and pivoted thereon in such a way that the rearmost ends thereof may be swung radially inwardly to grip the toppings of a beet between them. The gripper bars are provided with a suitable spring loaded mechanism which is caused to be released to cause the gripper bars to grip when the push rod means is in its rearmost position, and a suitable mechanism is provided for recocking and retaining the gripper mechanism in its cocked position upon withdrawal forward of the push rod means, all of which will be described in greater detail below.

Suitably, according to the invention, the push rod means consists essentially of a longitudinal rod with a generally pointed end mounted substantially coaxially with the topper housing upon a reciprooable carriage provided with suitable means for reciprocation thereof back and forth to pass the push rod in and out of the topper housing. Also, suitably, the carriage is provided with means to effect release of the gripper mechanism as it moves into its most rearward position and recocking of the gripper mechanism as it moves forward again.

The means for reciprocating the carriage are preferably arranged to provide a certain lost motion at each end of the path of travel of the carriage and the carriage is preferably moved into its most rearward position by auxiliary means, all of which will be described in more detail hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate a beet topping mechanism according to the invention, mounted to operate in connection with a digging mechanism which digs the beets and places them correctly oriented on the conveyor leading to the topper itself.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the machine, showing the general arrangement of parts.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the digging and topping mechanism shown in Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional detail of the top gripping mechanism taken along the plane 3 3 in Figure 1.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional detail of the trigger mechanism which controls the gripper mechanism, the view being taken along the plane 4 4 in Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detailed View of the gripper cooking mechanism.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged perspective View of the mechanism that conveys the beets from the plowshares to the topper cylinder and it also shows a portion of the carriage, topper cylinder and cocking tripping cam which is mounted upon the carriage.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged perspective View which shows the ploughshares, root orienting device and means for retaining and timing the feeding of the beet roots into the topper cylinder.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged detail of an auxiliary carriage actuating device.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged detail of the topper cylinder cocking levers.

Fig. l0 is an enlarged detail of a trough-shaped conveyor member.

Figure ll is an enlarged side elevation of the rear portion of the machine showing the topping mechanism near the rearward limit of its travel.

Figure l2 is an enlarged top plan view of a por- -f tion of the machine shown in Figure l1; and

Figure 13 is an enlarged perspective view showing the relationship of the cutter and holders in the cutting position.

Referring now more particularly to the drawf ings, it will be seen from Figures l and 2 that the mechanism of the invention is mounted upon a frame consisting of the heavy longitudinal members Iii and il, which are supported at the rear by the conventional castored wheel assemblies i2 and I3.

Cross-pieces Ill and l5 provide support for the topper housing in the form of the cylinder It, which consists of a generally cylindrical casting of appropriate length and diameter. If the mech` anism is to be used for topping sugar beets, the cylinder EE may suitably be of the order of 7 inches in diameter and l2 inches in length. Sup ported on suitable brackets xed to the frame members iii and i! are the slide bars i1 and -f i8, which are in generally parallel relationship to the frame members I3 and il respectively. Mounted upon the slide bars l1 and i8 is the carriage indicated generally at I9. The carriage is provided with suitable bushings to provide for reciprocating sliding motion back and forth on the slide bars i 1 and i 3, and is provided at either side with the lug members 2U and 2 l, which connect to a suitable mechanism for causing said reciprocating motion and which will be hereini after described. The carriage i9 itself consists mainly of a heavy, fiat, generally C-shaped plate, with the hollow of the C facing the topper cyl inder I6. The hollow in the C- is of a suitable size and its arrangement is such that when it is in its most rearward position on the slide bars I1 vand i8, the arms of the C straddle the topper cylinder I6.

The push rod 22 is rigidly secured centrally on the frame in generally parallel relation to the slide bars I1 and I8 and in generally coaxial relationship to the topper cylinder I6. The push rod 22 is of such length that when the carriage I9 is in its rearmost position on the slide bars i1 and I3, the head 22 thereof is in a predetermined position within the topper cylinder I6 near the rear thereof.

Surrounding the topper cylinder I 6 and adapted for limited axial movement with respect thereto, is the ring 23. This ring is of relatively heavy cross-section and is provided with a suitable num ber, for instance four as shown, of lugs 2li. Each lug 24, as will be seen most clearly in the detail in Figure 3, is pivotally connected to a link 25, which in turn is pivotally connected, as at 23, to

one arm of a bell crank 21. Suitable means, such as brackets 28, are provided on the topper cylinder IS, to provide for the pivoting of each bell crank 21, as at 29, and the topper cylinder I5 is suitably cut away, as at 30, to provide clearance for the elbows of the bell cranks 21. The arms 3| of the bell cranks 21 are pivoted at 32 to the links 33, which are pivoted at their other ends, as at 34, to the ears 35, which are provided on the gripper bars 3B. Each gripper bar 36 is provided at its foremost end with the ear 31, which extends through a suitably formed slot 38 in the topper cylinder I6 and is pivoted for angular radial movement, as at 39, at a pivot point which is preferably external to the casing of the cylinder I6, the pivot being supported by suitable brackets 40 secured to the exterior of the topper cylinder I6. The lower two gripper bars 3E are preferably provided with the leaf springs 4l, which are secured, for instance, by welding to the gripper bars 36 at the foremost ends thereof, but which at their rearmost ends curve to a certain extent inwardly and away from the gripper bars 36.

From the description in the previous paragraph, it will be apparent that if the ring 23 is moved towards the rear, the bell crank and linkage mechanism described will cause the gripper bars 36 to pivot radially inwards within the topper cylinder I6, and vice versa.

The ring 23 is provided with a plurality of forwardly extending spindles 42, as will be seen most clearly in Figures 1, 2 and 5. The spindles 42 are a freely sliding fit within the bushings 43 (seen most clearly in Figures 2 and 5) and upon each spindle 42 is mounted a compression spring 44, which is arranged to be compressed between the rearward face of the bushings 43 and the forward face of the ring 23. The length of the spindles 42, of course, is such that with the ring 23 in its most rearward position, the spindles 42 are still supported by the bushings 43.

The springs 44 are relatively strong springs and are designed continually to urge the ring 23 to the rear, so that the gripper bars 36 will grip anything that is between them with considerable force.

Located at the top of the ring 23 and rigidly secured thereto, for instance, by welding, is the trigger catch plate 45, which will be seen most clearly in Figures 2 and 4. The catch plate 45 extends forwardly of the ring 23 and is provided with the catch lug 43 which is designed to cooperate with the trigger mechanism, indicated generally at T in Figure 4, by means of which the ring 23 is held in its forward position against the influence of the springs 44 until the appropriate moment for its release and consequent actuation of the gripping mechanism.

The trigger mechanism consists of the lever member 41, which is generally of bifurcated structure and is centrally pivoted at 43 on the lug 49, which is secured rigidly, e. g., by welding, upon the center of the top of the topper cylinder I6, at the forward end thereof. Between the bifurcations of the lever member 41, at the rear thereof, is pivoted at 50 the Sear 5I, which is designed to cooperate with the catch portion 45 in such a way that as the latter is moved forward, the chamfered portion 52 thereof will cooperate with the cam surface 53 on the sear 5I to rotate the sear and permit the catch portion 46 to slide forwardly past the latter, until the sear 5| is free to rotate under the influence of lthe spring 54 back into its normal position, in which it will prevent the catch portion 46 from once again moving to the rear until release of the trigger mechanism. The sear I is prevented from rotating due to the rearward force placed upon it by the catch portion 46 by a stop 54 situated between the bifurcations of the lever member 4l, against which the foremost portion of the sear 5I normally abuts. The front end of the lever member 41 is rigidly secured to the arm 55, theforward end whereof is bifurcated to accommodate the cam roller 56 which is arranged freely to rotate upon the pin 51. The compression spring 58, which abuts at one end against the underside of the forward end of the lever portion 4l and at the other end is suitably secured to the lug 59 which extends axially from the front of the top of the topper cylinder I6, continually urges the Whole trigger mechanism into the position in which it will retain the catch portion 46 (and thus the ring 23 and its associated gripper mechanism) in cocked position.

The roller 56 is designed to roll along the cam strip 66 which is secured longitudinally along the top of the pusher bar 22. The forward end of the pusher bar is cut away at 6I and at that point the cam strip 66 deiiects downwardly. Mounted on the forward edge of the carriage I 9 is the housing 62, which contains the inner cam surface 63, which is designed to cooperate with the cam roller 56 as the carriage I9 approaches its rearmost position and force the cam roller 56 downwardly to release the trigger mechanism. Preferably the housing` 62, and consequently the inner cam surface 63, is secured to the carriage I 9 in a manner which permits a limited amount of adjustment in a longitudinal direction to provide for Control of the exact moment when releaseof the trigger mechanism takes place. The housing 62 may, for instance, suitably be secured by bolts passing through suitable holes in the carriage I 9 and through the longitudinal slots 64 in flanges at the bottom of the housing 62.

On either side of the carriage I9 and generally adjacent the inside edge of the arms of the C-shaped plate from which the carriage I 6 is formed, are the heavy brackets 65, within which are pivoted at 66 the cooking levers 67. These cooking levers 61 extend rearwardly from the brackets 65 and are of relatively heavy construction. They are pivoted within the brackets 65 in such a way that they may swing up and down in an arc, the plane of which is just inside the inner edge of the arms of the C formed by the carriage plate. The arc through which the cocking levers 67 may swing is limited in a downward direction by stops 66 which are rigidly mounted on the inner side of the guide members 69. The

i guide members 66 are bent over at their tops to provide seatings for Compression springs I6 which compression spring 'I6 continually urges the cocking levers 6l against the stop 68. Each cooking lever 61 is also provided with the enlarged portion 'II at the rear thereof to form a mounting for the cam rollers l2 on the inner side thereof, while each cooking lever is formed with the lug 'I3 at the bottom of the rearmost portion thereof.

On each side of the topper cylinder I6, secured to the ring 23 and movable therewith, are a forwardly extending pair of bars 14, which pair of bars 'I4 are connected at the forward end thereof with a web l5, upon which is secured the cooking lug 16. As mentioned previously, the bars 'i4 move relatively to the topper cylinder I6 with the ring 23. ln doing so, they are supported at the forward end by being in sliding contact with the cross bar I5, which is secured to the topper cylinder I6 in suitable position to provide said support.

On either side of the topper cylinder I6, in position immediately above the upper of each of the bars i4 are the cam studs 1l. Freely pivoted on either side of the topper cylinder at 'I8 are the levers 'I9. Each lever 'I9 is provided with the cam track 86, and when at rest the levers are in a position as shown in Figure 5 where the cam tracks 86 rest on the cam studs l1. The arrangement of the cam studs 'I1 and the levers 'I9 with their cam tracks 86 is such that they will contact the rollers 'lI on the cooking levers 67 as the latter move rearwardly with the carriage I9 to raise the cocking levers 6l so that in their continued rearward movement they will not foul the cooking lugs i6.

To the rear and slightly above the cam studs 'Il and levers 'I9 are the deflector members 8|, which are rigidly secured to the topper cylinder on either side thereof in appropriate position to ensure that the cam rollers l2, having been deflected upwardly by the cam tracks 86,` are limited in their upward deflection and do not foul the springs 64 or any other parts of the mechanism.

At the front end and secured respectively from the frame members I6 and II are the struts 82 and 86, upon the extremities of which are mounted the plowshares 84 and 85, which are of the conventional type used for digging vegetables and the like, such as beets, and which preferably are adjustable as to depth in the usual manner. The struts 6'! and 88 are pivotally secured to the frame members I6 and II. stationed immediately to the rear of the plowshares and supported by the struts 86 and 8l, the latter or which is supported from the struts 88, is the root orienting device indicated generally at RO.

The root orienting device consists or" substantially coneshaped members 89 and 96 which are secured to shaft 9! with their apices facing each other. 'I'he shaft 9| which is mounted for rotation in suitable bearings secured at the extremities of struts 6l has secured thereon sprockets 92 which sprockets are adapted to be driven by chain belts 93 which mesh with sprockets 94 secured on a shaft 95. The shaft 95 is rotatably mounted in bearings formed in the extremities of struts Y86. The struts 86 have formed thereon rearwardly extending bosses, each boss has formed therein a bore which is adapted to receive the angulated ends of the bars 97 which extend angularly upward, pass through bores formed in brackets 96 which are secured to the underside lof frame members I6 and I I. The upper ends of the bars .6l are screw threaded and have threadedly engaged thereon adjustment nuts I6() which abut against the outer face of the brackets 68 thereby providing a means for adjusting the tension of conveyor belt.

The conveyor mechanism generally indicated as C, consists of the endless chains I6I which at their foremost ends t around and mesh with the teeth on the sprockets I62. To the rear the chains I6I fit around and mesh with the teeth on the drive sprockets I 63, which are keyed to the main drive shaft |64 of the machine. The shaft |64 is supported in suitable bearings formed on the brackets I65 which are secured to the frame members I 6 and I I. Secured at their ends to the chains I6I are a plurality of parallel, spaced apart, trough-shaped members |66. At suitable predetermined intervals on certain of the trough-shaped members |66 of the conveyor C there is secured a number of tines I 06 which are adapted to extract an oriented beet from a beet receiving and holding device |40. The device Idil consists of a substantially semi-circular band |4| which is secured to struts 88 so that it straddles conveyor C, immediately to the rear of beet orienting device RO. Formed on the band I4| are a number of upstanding spaced apart lugs |42 adapted to receive between them and be pivoted thereon, ears |43 to which are attached fingers |44. The fingers IM extend outwardly over the conveyor belt C and incline downwardly and inwardly towards the conveyor belt to form a pocket adapted to receive and hold the beets delivered thereto by the plowshares and the beet orienting device. The fingers |44 are yieldingly retained in the above described position by a circumscribing helical spring |45. Thus, it will be seen that when the conveyor C is moving in the direction indicated by the arrows, the conveyor arrangement forms an endless trough moving upwardly from the region of the root orienting device RO', through beet receiving and holding device |40, towards the foremost end of the topper cylinder IG. The arrangement of the conveyor is such that it presents the beets which it carries rearwardly and upwardly to the front end of the topper cylinder i5 in timed rotation to the cycle of receiving, gripping and topping so that the root which is foremost on the conveyor rides over the lower lip |01 (see Figure 3) and into the topper cylinder I6.

Within the bearings |58, secured to the top of the bracket members |69 which are mounted upon the frame members I and II, is a cutter bar shaft H0. This shaft has mounted upon it for rotation therewith arms I, which are suitably bent over at their ends to provide for the mounting of a cutter bar ||2, which has formed thereon the knife edge |I3. The length or" the arms I I and the arrangement of the mechanism is such that the knife edge ||3 swings upwardly past and in very close proximity to the rearmost ends of the gripper bars 3B. The ends of the cutter bar shaft I I6 extend through the bearings |28 and have rigidly mounted thereon the arms I I4. These arms I I4 are provided adjacent their ends with the trunnions H5, upon which are mounted for rotation sleeves of carriage actuating links H6, which are provided with suitable bushings IITI for rotation on trunnions II5. lThe carriage actuating links are provided with the longitudinal slots I i8 at their foremost ends, within which are positioned the stub shafts IIS, which are mounted on the lug members 2t and 2| in such a way that the links are free 'to slide the fuil length of the longitudinal slots Iit during operation of the mechanism to provide for a predetermined dead position in the operating cycle of the carriage I9. The length of the carriage actuating link from the center line of sleeve II'I rotatably mounted on trunnion I I5 and the end of the slot |48 is not sufficient to move the carriage to its most rearward position but will when the throw of arm I I4 at its dead centre stops pulling the carriage a short distance short of its most rearward travel. At this point in the carriage actuation an auxiliary mechanism consisting of shaft |41, journalled to rotate in bearings mounted on hangers |48 secured to frame niembers i and I, upon which is secured double lever arms |49. The shaft of these arms M2 is driven at one half of the speed of the shaft II@ so that the tip |52 of the uppermost lever arm will engage with the face |5| of members |52 slidably mounted in slot |53 formed in hangers |53 mounted on the rear face of carriage I9. The' members |52 extend inwardly under the carriage I5 and are slidably supported at their inner ends by a bracket |54 secured cn the under surface of the carriage cover plate. Each member |52 has formed thereon a shoulder |55 against which abuts a washer |56, a spring |51 positioned between hangers |53 and |54 respectively biases the member |52 outwardly and also preloads the member so that it will not yield until the carriage has been moved to its most rearwardly point of travel. The members |52 will then be forced inwardly against the action of spring r|5"| by the lever arms |429 until they have rotated beyond the lowermost surface of members |52. The member |52 is also screw threaded at its innermost end and has threadedly engaged thereon a nut |58 which prevents the member |52 from disengagement with the bore in hanger |54.

The cutter bar shaft IIE! is driven by means of a drive chain |22 passing around the drive sprocket |2| secured on the main drive shaft ||l4 and sprocket |22 secured to shaft I I2. A suitable snubbing sprocket |23 (which is mounted in a bearing adjustably secured to one of the bearing brackets |59) maintains the drive chain in driving relation with the sprockets |2I and |22.

The drive chain |2|| also passes around a sprocket |22 which is rigidly secured on a toppings ejector shaft I25. The toppings ejector shaft is mounted below the frame members and I! in bearings secured mounted on bearing hangers |25. Mounted for rotation with the toppings ejector shaft |25 is the bifurcated topping ejector arm |2l. This topping ejector arm is slightly arc-shaped as shown, and is of such a length that in rotating upwardly past the rear end of the topping cylinder IQ, the bifurcated end thereof passes very close to the edge of the cylinder I6 and between the rear ends of two of the gripper bars 35, which will at that time be in the released position. Also mounted on the toppings ejector shaft |25 is the deflector screen |28, which is fixed to the shaft |25 in such an angular relationship to the toppings ejector arm that it may serve as a means for preventing beet roots, which have been cut by the cutter bar and which drop downwardly, from fouling or becoming impaled upon the pointed ends of topping ejector arm, and also to deect the beet roots onto a conveying belt (not shown).

Rigidly secured to the frame members and ii, and depending downwardly therefrom, are the arms |29, between which is rigidly secured the bar |32. Upon this bar there is ailixed thereto in a central position the three rearwardly extending prongs I3 I. These prongs are in position and are of such a length that on rotation of the topping ejector shaft |25, the bifurcated end of the topping ejector arm |21 passes within the spaces between the prongs |3| and all toppings which may still be clinging thereto are cleaned therefrom and fall to the ground beneath so that the toppings ejector arm as it approaches the bottom of the topping cylinder I6 is clean and free of any debris picked up during the previous cycle of operations.

The main drive shaft |24 is provided at one end thereof with a large drive sprocket |32, which is driven by a drive chain |32, which in turn is driven by a smaller drive sprocket |34. The latter sprocket is mounted on a shaft |35, which projects out of a gear housing box |36, which is mounted on the frame member I0 to the front of the topping mechanism. The gear box |36 Acontains a conventional gear arrangement which is arranged to transmit power from a universal coupling 31, which is connected to a conventional power take-off |38 of the tractor, of which only the rear portion of the tires |39 thereof are visible.

1 The machine above described operates as fo-lows:

As the machine is dragged forwardly by the tractor, the plowshares B4 and 85 uproot the beets and as each beet rides up between the plowshares it is gripped by the root orienting device RO, turned through 180 and deposited root foremost in the beet receiving andholding device |40. The conveyor belt C which has attached to it at predetermined intervals the tines |06', ex` tracts a beet fromwithin the receiving and holding device I 40 and carries it root foremost upwardly and to the rear until the root portion of the beet rides over the lip |01 at the rear of the topper cylinder I6. The driving mechanism is arranged in such a manner that when the beet arrives at the front end of the topper cylinder I6, the carriage I9 is in its most forward position and is just commencing to be moved to the rear by the drive links I I 6. As the carriage I9 moves rearward, the head 22' of the push rod 22 contacts the beet at the crown of the root portion and pushes it through the topper cylinder I6. The head 22 of the push rod is formed so that it will invariably contact the actual root,

`and finally when the carriage has moved to its most rearward position, it will have pushed the crown of the beet root to a position which is in the immediate vicinity of the plane of the rearward ends of the gripper bars 36. If a beet is smaller than normal, the springs 4| secured to the two bottom members 36 will maintain the beets in the centre o-f the topping cylinder I6 so that the head 22 of pusher rod 22 will not become disengaged therewith before pushing it into the position where the foliage will be gripped by gripper arms 36.

As the carriage I moves into its most rearward position, the roller 56 will be deflected downwardly by the inner cam surface 63 of the housing 62. This lowers the front end of the lever 41, raising the sear releasing the catch lug 46, and allowing the ring 23 to move to the rear under the influence of the compression springs 44. This operates the link and bell crank mechanism, shown in detail in Figure 3, causing the gripper bars 36 to pivot about the pivots 39 towards the centre of the topper cylinder I6.

`The tops of the beets are then grippedsecurely` between the gripper bars 36 and the root of the beet is suspended coaxially to the topper cylinder I6 with its crown resting against the rear ends of the gripper bars 36.

The drive is arranged so that at this particular point the cutter bar is moving upwardly immediately beneath the gripped beet, and as it continues its arcuate path past the ends of the gripper bars 36, itneatly cuts off the root from the tops, which are gripped by the gripper bars, and the root falls onto the deilector |28 where it is guided onto a conveyor belt (not shown). During the actual cutting operation the carriage remains in its fully rearward position because of the allowance for lost motion provided by the slots III in the `drive links |09. Shortly after the cutting operation is completed, the lost motion is completed and thecarriage I9 commences its forward motion. As the carriage commences to move to the front, lugs 'I3 contact the cooking -10 lugs 16, which, as explained Ipreviously, are in rigid attachment with the ring 23, and the ring moves toward the front, compressing the springs 44 until the cam rollers `12 come into contact with the cam lug 11, which forces them in an upward direction to release the contact between the lugs 13 and the cooking lugs 16. By this time, however, the trigger mechanism is in position to retain the ring 23 in a cooked position, because the first motion of the carriage I9 in a forward direction causes the roller 561 to ride up onto the flat portion of the cam strip 00, raising the free end of the cooking lever 61 and lowering the trigger 5| into position where as the ring 23 moves to the front, the surface 52 of the catch lug 46 contacts the Sear or surface 53 of the soar 5 l rotating it about the pivot 50 so that the catch lug 46 moves past the Sear 5|. On release of the cooking lugs 16 by the lugs 13, the ring commences to move to the rear once more, under the inuence of the springs 44, but is retained in the cocked position by the catch lug 46 being retained, which abuts against the sear 53 as shown in Figure 4. The carriage I9 continues its forward motion until it is a fully forward position, where it remains due to the lost motion provided yby the slots I I8 until the neXt beet has mounted the conveyor into position for the next cycle of operations.

While the carriage I9 is moving to the front, the toppings ejector moves in its arcuate path and the two prongs thereof move upwardly between the two lower gripper bars 361 to catch the toppings which are now released by the gripper bars due to the recocking of the gripper mechanism and the toppings are ejected to the rear. As explained previously, any toppings which tend to stick to the bifurcated end of the toppings ejector arm |21 are removed by passage between the prongs |3| before the next ejection operation takes place.

As will be apparent from the foregoing, the timing of the various operations is important, and the relative speeds at which the various portions of the machine are driven are also important. For instance, commencing with the operation of the root orienting mechanism RO, this must place the beet root foremost on the conveyor just at the time that the carriage I9 reaches its foremost position. The lost motion caused by the slots I I must be sufficient to allow the beet to be carried up the conveyor into position for the forward stroke of the push rod 22, while the lost motion of the carriage in its rearward position must be sufficient to permit the cutter bar ||2 to complete the lopping off of the root from the toppings before it commences to recook the mechanism, and the cooking action must be complete before the toppings ejector arm moves between the ends of the gripper bars to eject the toppings.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. A device for topping sugar beets and the like comprising a frame or chassis; a hollow, generally cylindrical topper housing secured to said frame in substantially axial alignment therewith; means for supplying beets, with their roots oriented to the rear, to the forward end of said topper housing; gripper means including at least four gripper bars pivoted at their forward ends to the inside of said topper housing, and spring loaded actuating means for said gripper bars, said actuating means being connected to the rearward ends of said gripper bars and being adapted on actuation to swing the rearward ends of said gripper bars inwardly to a gripping position; a carriage slideably mounted for longitudinal reciprocation with respect to. said frame or chassis .forward of said topper housing; a rearwardly extending push rod mounted on said carriage in substantially axial alignment with said topper housing for reoiprocation into and out of said topper housing as said carriage reciprocates longitudinally7 of said frame or chassis; releasable catch means mounted on said topper housing in position to co-act with said spring loaded actuating means for said gripper bars and retain the latter in a cocked position, said releasable catch means including a forwardly extending depres sible trigger release arm; means mounted on said carriage cooperating with said trigger release arm to depress the same as said carriage approaches its rearmost position during reciprocation; cocku ing means for said spring loaded actuating means comprising a cooking lug projecting therefrom, catch arm means on said carriage for engaging said cooking lug and carrying the same forward with the forward reoiprocatory movement of said carriage; cam lug means on said topper housing positioned to engage said catch arm means as it moves forwardly of a position which corresponds to the cocked position of said spring loaded actuating means to release said catch arm means from engagement with said cooking lug; a cutter shaft mounted transversely on said frame or chassis to the rear of said topper housing; a cutter blade mounted substantially parallel to said cutter shaft on` arms secured and rotatable therewith to swing said cutter blade upwardly past the rearward end of said topper housing in close proximity thereto; toppings extractor means including a second shaft transversely mounted on said frame or chassis and an extractor arm secured to said second shaft and arranged to swing upwardly between the rearward ends of said gripper bars when the latter are in the cocked position; and drive means for said device arranged to drive said carriage in reciprocating forward and rearward movement and rotate said cutter shaft and said second shaft in positive synchronization whereby said cutter swings upwardly past said topper housing when said. car riage is in its rearmost position, and said topn pings extractor swings upwardly between the ends of said gripper bars when said carriage is in its forward position.

2. A device as dened in claim 1 in which said means for imparting back and forth reciprocation to said carriage means includes; a shaft driven by said drive means; an arm mounted on said shaft; stud means on said carriage; and link means operatively connected at one end to the end of said arm and at the other end to said stud means, whereby rotation of said shaft causes back and forth reciprocation of said carriage means on said slide means.

3. A device as defined in claim 2 in which said link means is provided with means for providing a period of lost motion between movement to the rear of said carriage means, and movement of the same forward again and in which auxiliary means also driven by said drive means are pron vided for imparting a nal rearward motion to said carriage means during said period of lost motion.

4. A device as defined in claim 3 in which said means for providing a period of lost motion comprises a longitudinal slot in said link means, said stud means, on said carriage being mounted slidably and rotatably in said slot.

fifa

5, A device as defined in claim 3 in which said auxiliary means includes; a shaft mounted for rotation by said drive means at half the speed of rotation of the shaft which drives said means for providing back and forth reciprocation of said carriage means; rotating means secured to said shaft, said rotating means being provided with two contact portions positioned at 180 to each other; a contact area at the forward end of said carriage; said contact means being arranged to contact said contact area on said carriage to impart a final rearward motion to said carriage.

6. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said gripper actuating means comprises; a ring member surrounding said topper housing and mounted thereon for limited longitudinal movement; a bell crank for each of said gripper bars pivoted at its elbow on pivot means on the rearward end of said top-per housing, one of the free ends of said bell crank being pivoted to pivot means on the corresponding gripper bar; link means for each of said bell cranks, each said link means being pivotally secured at one end to the remaining free end of its associated bell crank and at the other end to pivot means secured to said ring member; and spring means arranged continually to urge said ring member to the rear, and consequently urge said gripper means to the gripped position by means of said bell cranks and links.

7. A device as dened in claim 8 in which the two lowermost of said gripper bars are provided with leaf springs secured in the region of their foremost ends to said gripper bars and slanting slightly inwardly away from said gripper bars at their forward ends to ensure a positive grip and correct positioning of undersize beets fed to said device.

8. A device as defined in claim 6 in which said releasable catch means comprises a sear lever pivotally mounted in suitable bracket means on the top of said topper housing, the free end thereof having a downwardly facing sear lug arranged for cooperation with catch means on said ring member to retain said spring loaded actuating means in cocked position; spring means continually urging said free end of said sear lever downwardly; a lever member pivoted substantially coaxially to said scar lever, said lever member having a rearwardly extending arm pivoted to a rearward portion of said sear lever, and a forwardly and downwardly extending trigger arm provided at its extremity with a cam roller arranged to follow a cam strip formed along the top of said push rod; spring means continually urging said lever member in a direction tending to keep said sear in engagement with said catch means; and cam means for depressing said trigger arm comprising a cam strip running along the top of said push rod and having a cam depression at the forward end thereof, and a cam member mounted on said carriage means above said cam depression arranged to force said roller into said depression whereby during the nal rearward movement of said carriage means, said cam roller follows said cam depression, lowering the trigger arm of said lever member, raising said sear lever and releasing said catch means.

9. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said catch arm means on said carriage comprises a lug on said carriage; a cooking arm pivoted to said lug and extending rearwardly thereof; seating means for said cooking arm arranged to seat the latter in generally horizontal position; spring means arranged to urge said cooking arm downwardly on to said seating means; and a catch lug formed on the end of said cooking lever, said catch lug being arranged to cooperate with the cooking lug on said sprintT loaded actuating means to move the latter to said cocked position during movement forward of said carriage means.

l0. A device as defined in claim 9 which comprises; a roller mounted on the inner side of said cooking lever; a cam lug secured to said topper housing in position to engage said roller as said carriage means moves forward at a point in the travel thereof just after said cocked posin tion has been reached, to swing said cooking lever upwardly out of engagement with said cocku ing lug.

ll. A device as defined in claim 10 comprising a deileotor member pivoted at its rearward end to said topper housing and arranged normally to rest with its forward end on said cam lug, said defiector member having -a cam surface arranged, during rearward movement of said carriage to cooperate with said roller on said cooking arm to deflect the cooking arm upwardly as said lug passes said cam lug to prevent fouling of said cam lug and said catch lug during forward movement of said carriage and then allow said cooking lever to drop into position behind said cam lug and said cooking lug, said delector member also being arranged to be deflected upwardly out of the way by said roller during movement forward of said carriage means.

l2. A device as dened in claim 11 comprising a second deeotor member secured to said topper housing and arranged positively to deflect said roller downwardly after it has been deflected upwardly by said rs't mentioned defleotor means, in the event of failure of said spring means to assert itself to lower said cooking levers in the required manner.

13. A device as defined in claim 1 in which said toppings ejector arm is formed with a pair of tines at the end thereof and comprising stripping means comprising three fingers mounted in fixed position beneath said topper cylinder and arranged in position so that in rotating upwardly the tines of said extractor `arm pass between adjacent pairs of said fingers whereby said extractor tines are stripped of any toppings still adhering thereto.

lli. A device as defined in claim i3 wherein deflector means are provided, comprising a grill mounted for rotation with the shaft of said toppings extractor1 means and arranged to deflect severed roots clear of said toppings extractor means in a predetermined direction.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,238,247 Colwill Apr. 15, 1941 

